The story of a 71 Elcamino

[PontiacHO]

That’s always the trademark of amateur “racer/mechanics”. Huge profile cam and too much fuel/carb.
We grow out of that need for a AA/Fuel Altered idle. I’ve had more fun on the street with stock camshafts, factory 4 bbl., dual exhaust, and stock gearing than anything with performance cams etc.

 

[Pablo]

That’s always the trademark of amateur “racer/mechanics”. Huge profile cam and too much fuel/carb.
We grow out of that need for a AA/Fuel Altered idle. I’ve had more fun on the street with stock camshafts, factory 4 bbl., dual exhaust, and stock gearing than anything with performance cams etc.

Agree!

I mean the possibility exists that some engines could be (slightly) improved with a new cam, but it's a tradeoff obviously. Longer dwell, more lift, etc are not something to thumbnail in. It's a heck of a crudshoot just in the simplest terms, I mean suddenly your powerband is moved up 1500-2000 rpm, lumpy bad idle, etc...........and you want to swap back, what a PITA. IMHO so people would just live with it.

 

[skyactiv]

Big blocks were hard to come by back then. At least for me I was often @ picapart looking for one for my 70 Elcamino. Never found one. Today there are several big blocks in trucks there.

I did find several sets of double hump heads though.

I heard those were hard to find used with no cracks.

 

[Chris142]

I heard those were hard to find used with no cracks.

They were thick castings and not prone to cracking. The later heads were thinner and the good vortex heads often crack.

 

[wtd]

I had a 71 El Camino with the 350 2-barrel in it. I think I still have the original 2 barrel from it sitting on a shelf in my garage. It was in pretty rough shape but I had all kinds of people want to buy it from me. I later traded it to my brother-in-law at the time for his 69 Caprice with a big block 396 in it and incidentally this car also came factory with a 2 barrel. I put the engine and transmission out of it into my 70 Monte Carlo and junked the Caprice. This engine/tranny combo still lives in my Monte Carlo after more than 25 years. I still have the 2-barrel intake and carb off of the big block in my shed.

 

[4wheeldog]

If some is good, more is better and too much is just right. It is the American way.

 

[Chris142]

I had a 71 El Camino with the 350 2-barrel in it. I think I still have the original 2 barrel from it sitting on a shelf in my garage. It was in pretty rough shape but I had all kinds of people want to buy it from me. I later traded it to my brother-in-law at the time for his 69 Caprice with a big block 396 in it and incidentally this car also came factory with a 2 barrel. I put the engine and transmission out of it into my 70 Monte Carlo and junked the Caprice. This engine/tranny combo still lives in my Monte Carlo after more than 25 years. I still have the 2-barrel intake and carb off of the big block in my shed.

That 2 bbl 396 was a rare bird. Someone will pay a lot for it

 

[wtd]

That 2 bbl 396 was a rare bird. Someone will pay a lot for it

Yes, it was only made in 1969 and it was only rated for 265 horsepower. I don't remember the torque. I know it doesn't have the high-performance heads that the other 396's had. I want to say that these heads say "truck" on them, but I can't remember for sure.

 

[Chris142]

Yes, it was only made in 1969 and it was only rated for 265 horsepower. I don't remember the torque. I know it doesn't have the high-performance heads that the other 396's had. I want to say that these heads say "truck" on them, but I can't remember for sure.

The heads will be large round port heads. They are very good for a street car. They are much better than the 454 heads used since the late 70's.